TEACHING + WORKSHOPS
Encouraging and guiding others to explore their creativity and to feel good is an important part of what I do. I have led workshops and courses in schools, art galleries, community settings, my own studio and even in beach huts! I have also taken part in talks and panel discussions at festivals and academic conferences and I teach undergraduate modules at The University of Sunderland.
As well as developing skills and techniques in glass, drawing and printmaking, teaching is a way of exploring and sharing ideas within my own work with others, and seeing how they in turn can develop their own creative voice.
Forest Garden Drawing Days
25 & 26 July 2026
10.00 - 4.30pm
£85 per day
Revitalise your approach to drawing in these full-day workshops, exploring drawing in the landscape, responding to nature as both inspiration and as material and process.
Come for one or both days and enjoy the glorious setting of High Dalby House, with its many features from wild forest to ponds and streams, landscaped gardens and architectural features, all in the heart of the North York Moors National Park.
Both days will explore drawing in the landscape, starting with experimentation with materials and drawing processes, before moving on to observational and more focused drawing in the afternoon. The workshop will include collaborative exercises, fun experiments to loosen your drawing style, as well as taught activities, exploring materials and techniques. In the afternoon we’ll each do our own focused drawing, inspired by what we enjoyed or what inspired us in the morning.
Led by artists Rachel Welford and Kathryn Welford
Small group: Max 6 on both days
Materials provided, but feel free to bring your own sketchbooks or materials if you wish.
Lunch included.
Anyone wishing to come for both days are very welcome. Accommodation may be available at High Dalby House on the Saturday evening, if you are interested in staying overnight. Please contact High Dalby House directly to make arrangements for your stay: https://www.highdalbyhouse.com/
Kathryn Welford
Kathryn is my sister and is also an artist and artist-educator! We will be running this workshop together. Although both artists with lots of shared experience in teaching art and leading workshops, our approach to making art is very different, so we complement each other very well!
Kathryn studied Fine Art at the Ruskin School of Fine Art & Drawing, Oxford University. She has taught and led education programmes in galleries and museums for over twenty years. She is a painter and also draws, focusing mainly on landscapes but also draws and paints what she sees around her.
She is a figurative painter, but enjoys the ‘painterliness’ of paint and the material quality of drawing. Kathryn is inspired by the textures and ‘messiness’ of gardens and of nature, and of the world around us. She always tries to depict her subjects honestly, presenting what is interesting and beautiful about the world, but being careful not to omit the messier, ugly or just ‘real’ aspects of a scene or subject. She uses drawing to capture a feeling of a subject, creating drawings and paintings from observation but also enjoying the expressiveness of the material and process of making.
Follow Kathryn on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/welfordkathryn/?hl=en
Book your place through my store or email rachel@rachelwelford.co.uk to book and pay by bank transfer
Cold Water Creativity
This year I also hope you’ll take a dip with me as I combine my love of sea-swimming with art and begin the Cold Water Creativity workshops. Join my free Facebook group Cold Water Creativity where I’ll be sharing all things art and creativity in relation to outdoor swimming.
drawing the sea
One-day experimental drawing workshops, part of Scarborough Fair’s Scarborough Art festival.
Saturday and Sunday 18th & 19th July 2026, 10am-5pm. £85
A weekend of experimental drawing inspired by the sea. This immersive weekend of drawing will include time at the shore, drawing from observation, as well as time in the studio. There'll be guided exercises to expand our mark-making vocabulary, open-ended drawing time to develop our personal approach and supportive discussion. We'll explore what drawing can be and develop creative relationships with the sea.
Bring your own sketchbook if you have one. A range of materials and paper sheets provided. Suitable for all levels of drawing experience, just bring a willingness to experiment and your love of the sea!
Book your place through my store, through the Scarborough Art website, or by emailing rachel@rachelwelford.co.uk and paying by bank transfer
